Summary The Department of Surgery is looking for a skilled, full time, Optometrist to join our Surgery Service team here at the Richmond VA Medical Center here in Richmond, VA. Responsibilities The position is located at Richmond VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia (RICVAMC). The Staff Optometrist at the RICVAMC operates in an ambulatory care setting within the facility.· The Staff Optometrist is credentialed and privileged through the Medical Staff Office · Supervisor under the auspices of the Chief of Staff in accordance with Medical Staff Bylaws. Optometry is organizationally part of the Surgery Service Line and input on staff effectiveness and individual Performance Evaluations will be obtained by the Chief of the Ophthalmology Section. The Staff Optometrist is a licensed independent practitioner responsible for patient care activities in the Eye Clinic. Planning, coordinating and exercising professional judgment in initiating and implementing administrative and clinical decisions are integral components of the position. The Richmond VA Medical Center, located in Richmond, Virginia, is a level 1a 349-bed facility offering primary, secondary, and tertiary health care in medicine, surgery, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, intermediate care, acute and sustaining spinal cord injury, skilled nursing home care, and palliative care. The medical center has four community-based outpatient clinics located in Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Emporia and Spotsylvania County, Virginia, and a strong and mutually beneficial affiliation with the Medical College of Virginia. Residency programs exist in virtually all general and specialty areas of medicine, rehabilitation, surgery, psychiatry, and dentistry. The medical center is the host site for one of five Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers in the VA system of care, and a Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center (PADRECC), one of six in the nation .VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. The duties and responsibilities of the Optometrist include, but are not limited to the following: Evaluate clinical performance and provide guidance/counseling to Ocular Disease residents and senior student, interns and initiate remedial actions, when necessary, for those residents or interns whose performance is marginal or unsatisfactory. Resolve complaints from employees, Veterans, families and others as they present. Lead a team comprised of clinicians, technicians, and administrative personnel. Create and maintain a patient centered;· care environment while meeting the demands involved with providing clinical care. Perform complete and thorough optometric exams and complete all clinical documentation requirements timely (as required). Exercises independent professional judgment in diagnosing the full range of complex ophthalmic conditions as well as planning and executing the necessary treatment programs to meet complex and frequent changes in treatment objectives. Promotes communication/interactions between Eye Clinic team members, patients, and their families to facilitate the medical treatment process. Refers, when indicated, patients with multiple health problems to other providers within the facility and the VISN. Consults with physicians and others. Utilizes the general clinical privileges which include: ordering diagnostic tests as appropriate, writing prescriptions for medications or other items on the hospital formulary, hospitalize patients within the VISN as appropriate and discharge patients from outpatient care if it is determined that care is no longer required. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met .BASIC REQUIREMENTS United States Citizenship Degree of doctor of optometry resulting from a course of education in optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: (1) United States and Canadian schools or colleges of optometry listed as accredited by the Council On Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association, in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed.(2) Schools (including foreign schools) accepted by the licensing body of a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia as qualifying for full or unrestricted licensure. Licensed to practice optometry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Optometrists are required to possess full and unrestricted licensure and to maintain a current registration in their State of licensure if this is a requirement of the particular State. The facility Director may waive this requirement if the optometrist is to serve in a country other than the United States and the optometrist has licensure in that country. Proficiency in spoken and written English. Preferred Experience: Must have qualifications that include: graduation from a formally accredited school or college of optometry Completion of an ACOE accredited postgraduate optometric residency training A current, active and unrestrictive license to practice optometry in the USA Prefer residency trained optometrists Grade Determinations: Full Grade. Two years of optometric practice or its equivalent. One year of approved residency training or its creditable equivalent acceptable to the Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association is acceptable in lieu of the 2 years of practice. Candidate must have demonstrated the professional competence and performance necessary to provide independently the full range of clinical optometric diagnosis and treatment for all the most prevalent types of vision dysfunctions and the detection and referral of patients with ocular disease or ocular manifestations of systemic disease. Intermediate Grade. Meets the requirements in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) below:(1) Four years of optometric practice or its equivalent. One year of approved residency training or its creditable equivalent acceptable to the Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association is acceptable in lieu of 2 years of practice.(2) The optometrist at this level has successfully passed the examinations of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry(3) Has achieved a high level of professional attainment Senior Grade. Meets the requirements for Intermediate grade and the requirements in paragraphs (1) and (2) below:(1) The optometrist at this level possesses such academic stature as would warrant a faculty appointment of a professional level in an approved school or college of optometry.(2) Has demonstrated recognized superior professional attainment References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-5 Optometrist Qualification Standard. Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination as required by VA Handbook 5019. This examination is administered by VA Occupational Health. This position requires moderate lifting up to 44 lbs., carrying objects up to 15 lbs., frequent reaching, use of hands and fingers, use of cranes and motor vehicles, walking, standing, bending and climbing. The incumbent must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of this position without hazard to themselves or others. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.